Galentine’s Day: Friendship over romance

Los Angeles, Feb. 10: Christie O’Sullivan from Trinity, Florida, has spent 21 Valentine’s Days with her husband, but her favourite celebration was one she shared with a close friend before she married.

They booked the day off work, enjoyed massages, sipped cocktails and went out for a fancy dinner.

“For me, it was a 10 out of 10. The whole day was intentional,” O’Sullivan said. She remembers it as empowering on a day that often brings pressure to be in a relationship, or sadness when you’re not.

Galentine’s Day entered popular culture after a 2010 episode of the TV comedy Parks and Recreation, which celebrated female friendships around Valentine’s Day. Amy Poehler’s character, Leslie Knope, gathered her friends on 13 February.

“What’s Galentine’s Day? Oh, it’s only the best day of the year,” Knope declared. Celebrating female friendships can, of course, happen at any time of year — whether on 13 February or another date altogether.

Chela Pappaccioli from Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, has hosted a Galentine’s Day party at her home for the past three years. She hires a bartender and a DJ and, this year, invited 45 of her nearest and dearest. So far, 34 have confirmed, and she is putting together gift bags for guests to take home. Men are not allowed, “unless the bartender happens to be male”.

The party may be extravagant, but Pappaccioli says it’s worth it.

“It’s an escape to just be with your girls, be silly, do something fun and focus on the friendships you’ve created and enjoying each other’s company,” she says.

Liz Momblanco from Berkley, Michigan, who describes herself as a “serial hobbyist”, invites friends to try activities such as biscuit and cake decorating, calligraphy and stained glass.

“I enjoy learning something new and having a shared experience,” said Momblanco, who has also attended women’s day retreats offering floral arranging, yoga or even cold plunges.

Marney Wolf, who runs the retreat company Luna Wolf, says art and creativity help build community.

“It bonds you, whether it’s something small or really deep. You see these grown women become almost childlike — ‘Oh my gosh! Well done! You’re so talented!’ That little boost is the easiest thing to give,” she said.

Wolf schedules Galentine’s-themed retreats near Valentine’s Day because some women don’t have anyone to spend 14 February with.

Pappaccioli says a few divorced friends attend her party, and even married women can feel low if their partner isn’t meeting expectations.

“It’s nice to know you don’t need that. You can still celebrate the holiday, just turn it around and focus on the relationships you want to,” she says.

Galentine’s Day gatherings can also spark new friendships. Spending quality time together encourages people to put their phones away, avoid distractions and create lasting memories.

O’Sullivan, a social media strategist, appreciates that her favourite Galentine’s celebration was phone-free.

“We were fully present — no photos, no messages, nothing,” she says.

“So even though there’s no record of it, the details became a core memory.” (AP)